[Page 59]

The Reply to Mr.

1 NO: I'm unmov'd: nor can thy charming Muse
2 One tender Thought into my Breast Infuse.
3 I am from all those sensual motions Free;
4 And you, in vain, speak pretty things to Me:
5 For through the Splendid Gallantrys of Love,
6 Untouch'd, and careless, now I wildly rove,
7 From all th' Attacques of those proud Darts secure,
8 Whose Trifling Force too Tamely you indure;
9 Nor ought, on Earth's so delicate to move
10 My Nicer Spirit, and exact my Love:
11 Even Theron's Lovely and Inticeing Eyes,
12 Tho' arm'd with flames, I can at last despise;
13 With all the Genuine charms and Courtly Arts,
14 By which your Treacherous Sex invade our Hearts:
[Page 60]
15 No more those little Things contract my breast
16 By a Diviner Excellence possest;
17 And, should I yield agen, it dear must cost
18 My Victor e're he shall the Conquest Boast;
19 For the Mad Venome's quite expell'd my Veins,
20 And calmer Reason now Triumphant Reigns:
21 No more the dearest object of my sight
22 Can move a Soft Sensaetion of Delight;
23 Or force my lingring Blood a swifter pace,
24 Or Paint new Smiles and Blushes on my Face.
25 I've rent the Charming Idol from my heart,
26 And banisht all from thence that took his part.
27 No more the Smiling Beaux shall tempt me on
28 To Gaze, and Sigh, and think my self undone;
29 Whilst Love, like some Fierce Torrent unconfin'd,
30 Breaks in, o'f-spreads, and swallows up my Mind;
31 And with its black ungrateful streams controul
32 All the Diviner Rays within my Soul.
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33 No, No: I will, I will no more admire,
34 And urge the Sparks of the now dormant Fire:
35 Nor for a wild Fantastick Extasy,
36 Change the Dear Ioys of this blest Liberty;
37 Free, as a wandring Zephir, through the Air,
38 Methinks I range, and hate my former Sphear.
39 I meet the Noblest Forms, yet scorn to pay
40 A Fond Devotion to well-moulded Clay:
41 Nor would I even for my late splendid Chain
42 Forgo this Charming Liberty again;
43 Which with so sweet a Calmness fill my Breast
44 As cannot be in Words, no not in thine Exprest.

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About this text

Title (in Source Edition): The Reply to Mr. —
Themes: relations between the sexes; sadness
Genres: heroic couplet; answer/reply

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Source edition

Rowe, Elizabeth Singer, 1674-1737. Poems on several occasions. Written by Philomela. London: Printed for John Dunton at the Raven in Jewen-street, 1696, pp. 59-61. [24],72,69,[11]p.; 8⁰ (ESTC R7317; OTA A57734)

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The text has been typographically modernized, but without any silent modernization of spelling, capitalization, or punctuation. The source of the text is given and all editorial interventions have been recorded in textual notes. Based on the electronic text originally produced by the TCP project, this ECPA text has been edited to conform to the recommendations found in Level 5 of the Best Practices for TEI in Libraries version 4.0.0.

Other works by Elizabeth Rowe (née Singer)